Rotary internal-combustion engine



"July 9, 1929- E. o. SHREFFLER in- AL 1.720.098

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 3, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet avwzulioi 2'. 0. Skroffler A. Q Lea-$12 M aw y y 9, 1929- E. o. SHREFFLER ET AL 1.720.098

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 3, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 if. 0. Sizrcjfiier A.JD.Lesc:ge

I I attorney y 9, 1929- E. o. S HREFFLER ET AL 1.720.098

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 5, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 avwemtoc J w fe m w 2 f y 9, 1929- E. o. SHREFFLER ET AL 1.720.098'

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE "fled March 3, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 III nocnloz Skrefllqr 11.12 Lesa 36 V I I I flflozmql y 9, 1929- E. o. SHREFFLER El AL 1,720,098

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 5, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 E: O. Sfireffle'r A. 1.). Lasage a 7 1 amazing y 1929- E. o. SHREFFLER ET AL 1.720.098

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTIO N ENGINE Filed Maren o 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 III/III u r m 4 m a e m j m m? w 3 M a 5 F a a m M a 5 A f a a 4 a w Patented July 9, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELWYNE O. SHREFFLER AND AARON D. LESAGE, OF HANTENO, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

' Application filed March 8, 1926. Serial No. $2,058.

This invention relates to rotary internal combustion engines and seeks, among other with the exception of the storage of the fuel mixture, be eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an engine wherein the rotor will be employed as a storage chamber for the fuel mixture, wherein means will be provided for automaticallyreleasing some of the mixture and relieving the chamber so as to prevent the building up in said chamber of an undesirably high compression of the fuel mixture, wherein means will be provided for varying the maximum pressure of the fuel fuel mixture released from the chamber will be discharged into the main intake chamber of the engine to be subsequently utilized.

Another object of the invention is to provide manually adjustable means for varying the instant of transfer of the compressed fuel mixture from the storage chamber to the firing chambers of theengine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide manually adjustable means for varying the volume of fuel mixture pumped into the storage chamber.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide an engine wherein the endless annular cylinder employed will be divided into separate chambers by a plurality of rotary abutments and wherein the pistons and the abutments will be so formed that the opening and closing period of each abutment will overlap the period required for any one of the pistons to pass said abutment so that the loss of fuel mixture as well as the loss of compression will be reduced to a minimum. 1

Other objects of the invention not specifically-mentioned in the foregoing, will appear during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved engine, parts being broken awayand shown in section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing one of the cylinder sections of the casing removed.

Figure 3 is an elevation lookin at the side of the engine opposite to that s own in Figure 1, parts being broken away.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 44'of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated b the arrows.

Figure 5 is a ragmentar plan view looking at the rotor and particufiirly showing one of the pistons.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the abutments open and illustrating a piston assing the abutment.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 88 of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing a typical pair'of the transfer ports of the rotor as well as the pair of inlet ports of one of the firing chambers. mixture in said chamber, and wherein the Figure 11' is a fragmentary sectional view particularly showing one of the abutment packing members.

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view on the line 12-12 of Figure 11, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view on the line 13*13 of Figure 11, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing one of the compressing cams for the piston packing rings.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary rspective view showing a portion of one o the center flange packing rin of the rotor. 1

Figure 15 is a etail sectional view take through the center flange of the rotor and showing the packing rings thereon.

Figure 16 is a detail sectional view particularly showing a typical pairof the ripheral packing rings of the rotor.

Figure 17 is a sectional view particularly showingone of the transfer timing rings of direction indicated by the arrows, and showing one of the transfer timing rings of the cylinder as well as one of the transfer ports of the rotor, this figure being an enlargement of a part of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is an enlarged sectional view on the llne 1919 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing the hand lever for adjusting the transfer timing rings.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the intake port of one of the induction chambers.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary sectional View particularly showing one of the abutments and one of the pistons.

Figure 22 is a detail sectional view on the line 22-22 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and particularly showing the bypass of one of the induction chambers of the annular cylinder as well as the timing member in said bypass.

Figure 23 is a detail sectional view more i particularly showing the mounting of the bypass timing members.

Figure 2% is a sectional view on the line 242 .-.of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and shdwing the hand lever for adjusting the bypass timing members.

Figure 25 is a detail sectional view on the line 2525 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing the mounting of the coupling rings for the levers of the bypass timing members.

Figure 26 is a detail sectional view on the line 2626 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showdng the mounting of one of the spark plugs.

Figure 27 is a detail section similar/to Figure 20 but showing the intake port as opened.

In carrying the invention into effect, We employ a casing embodying an annular cylinder 10 which is referably provided with a jacket 11 and is ormed of mating sections bolted together at their outer peripheries. Opening into the cylinder 10 at its inner circumference is a medial annular channel 12, and projecting laterally from the jacket 11, as shown in Figure 4, are annular flanges 13 to which are detachably secured side plates 14 and 15 closing the casing to provide a main intake chamber 16'w1thin the casing. Concentrically mounted within the casing is a cylindrical rotor 17 provided at one side thereof with a thickened inwardly directed annular flange 18, and detachably secured to said flange and to the edge of the rotor at its opposite side are side plates *19 and 20 closing the rotor whereby the interior thereof will constitute a fuel mixture storage chamber 21. Fixed to the side plate 19 is a shaft 21 journaled through the side plate 14. ofthe casing, and fixedto the side eries of the rings at suitablfy I 1,7ao,oes

plate 20 of the rotor'is an alined shaft 22 journaled through the side plate 15 of the easing, the side plates of the casing being provided with suitablebearings to accommodate said shafts. Formed on the shaft 22 at its inner end is a spider 23 straddling a port 24 in the side plate 20 of the rotor, and normally closing said port is a relief valve 25, the outer end of the stem of which is slidable in an axial bore in the shaft 22 while the inner end of said stem is slidably sup ported by a guide member 26 fixed to the inner side of the plate 20. Engaged in the outer end of said bore is an abutment screw 27, and confined between said screw and the outer end of the valve stem is a spring 28 normally holding the valve closed. Either or both of the shafts 21 and 22 may be equipped with a power transmitting device as, for instance, a pulley, as conventionally illustrated at 23.

The cylinder 10 is provided at its inner periphery with a smooth annular wall 29 to closely surround the rotor, and radiating from the rotor is a medial annular flange 30 which rotatably fits in the channel 12 of the cylinder and is provided in its opposite sides with annular grooves 31. Counter-sunk in the rotor to cooperate with the cylinder wall 29 are pairs of split resilient packing rings 32 located at opposite sides of the flange 30, and locking said rings against independent movement on the rotor, as seen in Figure 16, are pins 33 freely accommodated in suitable radially elongated openin-s in said rings. Countersunk in the perip may of the rotor to extend transversely between'each pair of the rings 32, as seen in Figure 5, are circumferentially spaced packing cleats 3 1. Formed on the flange 30 of the rotor, at equally spaced points, are piston saddles 3 5, and countersunk in the side faces of said flange are split resilient bearing against the side walls of the channel 12. As best shown in Figures 10 and 14 of the drawings, these rings are provided at the piston saddles 35 with thickened widened portions 37 which overlie the sides of the piston saddles and are formedwith beveled inner faces coacting therewith, while, as brought out in detail inFigure 15, the rings are also formed with beveled inner faces to coact with the flange 30 of the rotor, the rings. being substantially triangular in cross section. Accordingly, the tendency of the rings to expand will serve to compress the r ngs with the portions 37 thereof tightly against the side walls of the channel 12 to maintain sealed joints between the flange 30 and said walls. Formed in the inner periphspaced points are transverse grooves and reely accommodated in said grooves are pins 38 looking the rings against independent rotation.

In the present instance, we have shown the packing rings 36 flange of the rotor as provided with three of the piston saddles 35, and fixed on said saddles are hollow pistons 39 slidably fitting in the cylinder 10. As shown in Fi ure 6, the pistons are detachably secured to the saddles b bolts 40 while the interior cavities of said pistons are connected with the storage chamber 21 of the rotor by inlet passages 41 extending through said saddles into the rotor. Screwed through the forwardside walls of the pistons are valve cages 42 and slidably supported by said cages are inwardly opening check valves 43 spring pressed to closed position for cutting off the escape of compressed fuel mixture from the stor- 7 age chamber.

- riers.

theirperipheries against the peripheral As best seen in Figure 10, thepiston saddles 35 are provided with radial openings 44, the lower ends of which enter the grooves 31 of the flange 30 of the rotor, and countersunk in the pistons 39 to cooperate with the wall of the cylinder 10 are medially disposed resilient packing rings 45 provided at their ends with depending legs 46 freely received through the openings 44 of said saddles. The legs of the rings are formed at their free ends with lateral lugs 47 which project into the grooves 31 for locking the rings against displacement, and it is now to be observed that the legs 46 are of reduced thickness and may accordinglyshift laterally within the openings 44 of the piston saddles so that the rings may freely expand against the cylinder wall At quadrantly spaced points the cylinder 10 is formed with the inner sections 48 of laterally enlarged abutment housings which lie at right angles to the cylinder, and bolted to said inner sections of the housings are the outer sections 49 thereof, these latter sections being formed of companion detachably connected members so that the abutments and associated parts may be readily assembled within the housings. Slidable radially in said housings are abutment carriers 50, and journaled on said carriers are circular abutments 51. The carriers are notched at their inner ends to snugly but rotatably accommodate the abutments, and

extending through the respective carriers rovided and abutments are shafts 52 each at one end with a worm gear 53. s shown in Figure 7 the carriers are equi ped with suitable bearings 54 for said sha ts so that the abutments may turn freely upon the car- The abutments normally vbear at edge of the flange 30 of the rotor, which edge is slightly concave to fit the contour of 'the peripheral edges of the abutments, and

accommodated in suitable recesses in the outer ends of the carriers 50, as best seen in Figure 2,'are springs 55 pressing the car-p t at riers' inwardly so the abutments will be held firmly against said flange, Limitpointed at their inner ends to engage in correspondingly shaped sockets in the carriers so that by backing the screws out of said sockets, the carriers may be permitted to shift inwardly under the action of the springs 55 for taking up wear on the periphery of'the rotor flange 30' and on the peripheries of the abutments. Countersunk in the side walls of the abutment housings, as best seen in Figure 11, are packing members each of which comprises a split resilient ring 57 disposed concentrically of the cylinder 10, and an integral split resilient ring 58 rising from the ring 57 opposite the split therein. The rings 57 are of a diameter somewhat greater than the internal diameter of the cylinder and hear at their ends against the packing rings 36 of the rotor flange 30 while the ends of the rings 58 terminate at the side faces of the carriers 50 so that-the carriers may shift between the ends of the latter rings, and pressing the packing members against the side faces of the abutments, as shownin Figure 12, arepairs of springs 59 countersunk in the wall of the abutment flange by suitably spaced cap bolts, and

formed on the cylinder 10 ,at corresponding sides of the abutment housings are radially disposed bearings 61 through which are journaled shafts 62. Fixed to the inner ends of said shafts are pinions 63 meshing with the'gear rin 60, and fixed to the outer ends of said shats are worms 64 meshing with the worm gears 53, the worms and worm gears being enclosed within chambers" 65 on the abutment housings. Thus, as will be perceived,-the abutments will be rotated as the rotor revolves.

Formed .in each abutment 51, as particularly seen in Figures 4 and 7, is a notch 66 which, when brought into register with the cylinder 10, freely accommodates the pistons 39 therethrough and, in this connection, it should be observed that the abut-ments are turned three complete revolutions for each revolution of the rotor so that as the several pistons travel in the cylinder 10, the notches of the abutments will be brought into position at the cylinder to permit the pistons to pass. As shown in Figure 2, the abutments are tapered toward their peripheries so that their. side faces are thus inclined to conform somewhat to the inclination of the end faces of the pistons as shown in Figure 21, and. formed. on each abutment at the notch 66 therein is a leading lip 67 beveled eled lip 67 will travel across the latter face in close parallel relation thereto. The period of opening and closing of each abutment thus overlaps the period required for a piston to pass the abutment and, accordingly, the interval during which the abut ment. is edectively open is correspondingly shortened.

As shown in Figure 7, the rings 58 of the abutment packing members are at all times covered by the abutments and since the pairs of springs 59 are located at the junction of said rings with the rings 57, as previously indicated, so that the pressure of said springs will be sustained by the abutments when open, tilting of the packing members out of the grooves therefor will be prevented. Partially countersunk in the walls of the channel 12 beneath each of the abutments, as best shown in Figures 7, 9 and 13 of the draw-- ings. are pairs of oppositely disposed cam members 69 which are slidably received in V the grooves 31 of the rotor flange 30, and extending from said cam members laterally through the wall 29 of the cylinder 10 are stems 70. Arranged behind the cam members are pairs of springs 71 pressing the cam members inwardly into said grooves, and screwed on the outer ends of said stems are nuts 72. Thus, as will be seen, as each piston 39 reaches one of the abutment chambers, the pair of cam members 69 at said chamber will engage the ln s 47 on the legs 46 of the packing ring 0% said piston and shift said legs laterally within the openings 44 of the sad dle 35 of the piston for compressing the packing ring and holding said ring compressed while the piston travels through the abutment housing. In the absence of the cam members 69, the ring 45 of each oft-he pistons would, as the piston passed into any one of the abutment housings, expand so as to lodge against the cylinder wall as the piston passed out of said housing. However, as brought out in Figure 7, the cam members 69' will, as previously noted, hold the rings compressed, the pairs of springs 71 behind the cam. members being of greater tension than the tension of the packing rings and, of course, wear on the cam members as well as wear .on the lugs 47 of the legs of the packing rings may be taken up by adchambers 7 3 and 74 near corresponding ends thereof, as seen in Figures 8 and 20, are inlet passages 77, and connected to the side plate 15 of the engine casing, as shown in Figure 3, is an approved carburetor 78 delivering into the main intake chamber. Acccrdingly, as each piston 39 advances through either of the chambers 73 or 74, suction will be created behind said piston for drawing fuel mixture from the carbureter into the chamber 16 and thence through one or the passages 77 into said induction and compression chamber. Ooincidently, as each piston advances through either of the chambers 73 or 74, said piston will compress, between it and the abutment at the forward end of the chamber, the fuel mixture drawn into the chamber by the preceding piston so that the compressed fuel mixture will cause the check valve 43 of the piston to open, whereupon the fuel mixture in front of the piston will be forced through the pis ton and through the connecting passages 41 therefor into the storage chamber 21 of the rotor. The fuel mixture will, therefore, be stored and compressed in the storage chamber. When the pressure of the mlxture in said chamber becomes sufficient to overcome the tension of the spring 28 on the relief valve'25, said valve will then be opened to permit the escape of some of the compressed mixture through the port 24 into the chamber 16, from which latter chamber the escaped mixture will, as the engine continues in operation, be again taken into the chambers 73 and 74, along with fresh fuel mix ture drawn in from the carbureter, and reintroduced into the storage chamber. Loss of the fuel mixture will thus be avoided and as will be perceived the pressure of the mixture in the storage chamber may be varied by ad usting the screw 27 to vary the tension of the spring 28 on the relief valve 25.

Formed in one. side of the cylinder 10 near outer sides are stems 85 which are slidably received through suitable slots in the cover plates 82, and pivotally connected at their outer ends with said stems are levers 86 which are mounted to rock upon bosses 87 projecting from the jacket 11 at points radially inward from said slots. Lying against the inner side of the cover plate 15 of the engine casing, as seen in Flgures 3 and 4:, is a coupling ring 88 with which the inner ends of the levers 86 are pivotally connected, and projecting from the plate at suitably spaced points, as shown in detail in Figure 25, are pairs of spaced lugs 89 rotatably supporting the ring. Near its highest peripheral point, the plate 15 is, as seen in Figure 24, provided with a bearing 90, and journalcd through said bearing is a shaft 91 provided at its inner end with a. lever 92 pivotally connected with the ring 88 while to the outer end of said shaft is fixed a hand lever 93. Thus, the hand lever 93 ma be rocked for rotating the ring 88 and shi ting the timing members 83.

Formed on the side plate 20 of the rotor,

. as seen in Figures '3, 20 and 27 of the drawings, are suitably spaced lateral flanges or lugs 94 disposed to momentarily close the inlet passages 77 of the chambers 7 3 and 74 as the rotor revolves, Figure 20 showing a flange in the closing position, and Figure 27 showing the flange or lug in the opening position. These flanges are so arranged that as each piston 39 travels forwardly in either chamber, and after a quantity of fuel mixture has been drawn into the chamber, a corresponding flange will close the intake passage of said chamber so that as the piston continues forwardly, a partial vacuum will be created in the chamber behind the piston while compression of the fuel mixture in front of the piston will continue until said piston, passes over the outlet port 81 of the bypass 79 of said chamber. Thus, as the piston reaches a position between the ports 80 and 81 of the bypass, the portion of the compressed mixture in front of the piston not forced past the check valve 43 of the piston into the storage chamber of the rotor, will beinduced by the partial vacuum, through the bypass behind the piston before the abutment at the forward end of the chamber begins to open. Accordingly, practically none of the fuel mixture will be permitted to eswith the result that a less quantity of the fuel mixture in front of the piston will be forced into the storage chamber. Accordingly, as will be seen, the hand lever 93 may be adjusted to control the quantity of fuel mixture compressed in the storage chamber.

Formed on the cylinder 10 at corresponding ends of the firing chambers 75 and 76, as shown in detail in Figure 26, are bosses 95 having passages opening into said chambers, and screwed into the outer ends of said passages are appropriate spark plugs 96.

At their same ends, the chambers 75 and- 76, as shown in detail in Figure 8, are further provided with pairs of inlet passages 97 while near the opposite ends of the chambers are formed exhaust ports 98 open to the atmosphere. As will be observed, the passages 97 extend through the wall 29 "of the cylinder 10 at opposite sides of the channel 12, and formed in the peripheral wall of the rotor 17 are pairs of transfer ports 99 disposed to be brought into register with said passages as the rotor revolves, packing cleats 100 being provided, as shown in Figures 5 and 10, at the front and rear of each of said ports.

countersunk in the wall 29 of the cylinder 10 is a pair of rotatable split resilient timing rings 101 disposed in contact wi h in Figure 19, are oppositely disposed lateral ears 104:, the ear of the ring at the side of the engine casing with the intake chamber 16 being accommodated through a suitable slot in the cylinder wall 29, and mounted to rock upon the cylinder is a straddling hand le'ver 105 pivotally connected with said ears. Thus, the hand lever may berswung for rotating the rings 101.

As a piston 39 moves into either of the firing chambers 75 and 76, a pair of the transfer orts 99 of the rotor will, immediately a ter thepiston advances beyond the inlet passages 97, be brought into register with said passages, and a charge of the compressed fuel mixture in the storage chamber 21 of the rotor will be released from said storage chamber into said firing chamber behind the piston. Continued rotation, of the rotor 17 will then serve to shift the transfer ports 99 out of register with the inlet passages of the firing chamber and close said passages, whereupon the fuel charge is i nited by means of the spark plug 96 of said chamber. The piston will thus be driven forwardly in the chamber to cross over the exhaust port 98 of said chamber, and the spent gases will exhaust through said port to the atmosphere. As will be perceived, the transfer of the fuel mixture from the stora e chamber 21 of the rotor to the firing c amber is controlled by the instant of registration of the pair of transfer ports 99 with the adjacent openings 102 of the timing rings 101 at the inlet passages 97 of said chamber. Accordingly, as will be seen, by adjusting the rings in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 18, the instant of transfer of the fuel mixture to the. firing chamber may be advanced for allowing a greater length of time for the flow of the compressed fuel mixture from the storage chamber into the firing chamber at high speeds of the engine, while, by adjusting said rings in a clockwise direction, the instant of transfer of the fuel mixture may be retarded. Furthermore, as will be seen, as the instant of transfer of the fuel mixture is advanced, the adjacent openin s 102 of said rings will be moved more ully into register with the passa es 97 of the chamber so that as the length'o time allowed for the transfer of the compressed mixture is increased, said mixture will be admitted to the firing chamber in greater volume. Conversely, as the instant of transfer of the fuel mixture is retarded, a correspondingly less volume of the mixture will be admitted to the firing chamber. The fuel mixture transfer timing rings 101 therefore also constitute throttle valve rings which may be adjusted for controlling the speed of the engine. Referring now more particularly to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that when the engine is in operation, a charge of fuel mixture will be exploded behind each piston traveling through the chamber 7 5 as well as behind each piston traveling-through the chamber 76, the explosions occurring in said chambers alternately. Accordingly, the rotor will receive a power impulse at each sixth of a turn. As each (piston travels through the chamber 75, sai piston will scavenge the chamber of burnt gases remaining therein from the previous explosion in said chamber and, of course, a like scav-' enging of the chamber 7 (Swill also take place. Furthermore, as each piston travels through the chamber 73, fuel mixture will be into said chamber behind the piston while the fuel mixture drawn into the chamber behind the preceding piston will be compressed in front of the succeedin piston in the chamber and forced into t e storage chamber 21 of the rotor. Like functions will, of course, attend the travel of each piston through the chamber 74. An ample supply of compressed fuel mixture will thus be maintained in the storage chamber so that the engine will operate smoothly and without interruption.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is:

1. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder, a hollow circ ar rotor journaled axially of said cylinder havmg its interior constituting a fuel in" storage chamber, shiftable abutments d1 ing said cylinder into induction and firing chambers of constant capacity, pistons fixed radially to and carried by therotor to travel in said cylinder through said induction and firing chambers and having passages in communication with the storage chamber for forcing fuel mixture from said induction chamber of the cylinder into said storage chamber of the rotor under compression, means for intermittently releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber of the rotor, to said firing chamber of the cylinder, and means in the rotor for controlling the pressure of the mixture stored in said storage chamber.

2. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder, a hollow circular rotor journaled axially of said cylinder and havmg its interior constituting a fuel mixture storage chamber, shiftable abutments dividing said cylinder into induction and firing chambers, pistons fixed radially to and carried by the rotor to travel in said cylinder through said induction and firing chambers and having passages in communication with the storage chamber for forcing fuel mixture from said induction chamber into said storage chamber of the rotor under compression, means for intermittently releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber ofthe rotor to said firing chamber, of the cylinder, and means in one side of the rotor for relievin the storage chamber of the rotor at a pre etermined pressure of the mixture therein.

3; In a rotar internal combustion engine, a casing provi ing an intake chamber at one side and includin an annular cylinder, a

rotor gournaled axially of said cylinder and lit) inder and having passa es in communication with the storage cham rfor forcing fuel mixture from said induction chamber into the storage chamber of the rotor under compression, means for intermittently releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber of the rotor, to said firing chamber of the cylinder, and means for releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber of the rotor into said intake chamber of the casing at a predetermined ressure of the mixture in the storage cham- 4. In a rotary internalcombustion engine, a casing providing an intake chamber at one side and including an annular cylinder, a rotor mounted axially of said cylinder and providing a fuel mixture storage chamber, a shaft carried b the rotor and journaled through the casing, shiftable abutments dividing said cylinder into induction and firing chambers, the induction chamber being in communication with the intake chamber of the casing, pistons fixed to the rotor to travel in said cylinder through the induction and firing chambers for ,aspirating fuel mixture from said intake chamber into the induction chamber and forcing fuel mixture in the induction chamber into the storage chamber of the rotor under compression, means for intermittently releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber to said firing chamber, and a spring pressed relief valve carried by said shaft for releasingthe compressed mixture from the storage chamber of the rotor into said intake chamber of the casing at a predetermined pressure of the mixture in the storage chamber.

5. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder, a rotor journaled axially of said cylinder and providing a fuel mixture storage chamber, shiftable abutments dividing said cylinder into induction and firing chambers, pistons carried by the rotor to travel in said cylinder through said latter chambers for forcing fuel mixture from said induction chamber into said storage chamber under compression, means for intermittently releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber to said firing chamber, and means for va ing the instant of release of the compresse mixture.

6. In a rotary internal combustion en-' gine, an annular cylinder, a rotor journaled axially of said cylinder and providing a fuel mixture storage chamber, shiftable abutments dividing said cylinder into induction and firing chambers, pistonscarried by the rotor to travel in said cylinderthrough said latter chambers for forcing fuel mixture from said induction chamber into said storage chamber under compression, means for intermittently releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber to said firingchamber, and a timing ring carried by said cylinder to encircle the rotor and adjustable for varying the instant of release of the compressed mixture.

7. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder, a hollow circular rotor journaled axially of said cylinder and having its interior constituting a fuel mixture storage chamber, shiftable abutmcnts dividing said cylinder into induction and firing chambers, said firing chamber being provided with an inlet passage, and hollow pistons fixed radially to and carried by the rotor to travel in said cylinder through said induction and firing chambers for forcing fuel mixture fronrsaid induction chamber through the pistons into said.

storage chamber under compression, the r0- tor being provided with a transfer port to intermittently register with said inlet passage of the firing chamber for releasing compressed fuel mixture from the storage chamber of the rotor to said firing chamber.

8. In a rotary internal combustion engine,

an annular cylinder, a rotor jo'urnaled axrally of said cylinder and providing a fuel m1xture storage chamber, shiftable abutmcnts dividing said cylinder into induction and firing chambers, said firing chamber being provided with an inlet passage, pistons carried by the rotor to travel insaid cylinder through said latter chamber for forcing fuel mixture from said induction chamber into said storage chamber under compresslon, the rotor being provided with a transfer port to intermittently register with said inlet passage for releasing compressed fuel mixture from the storage chamber to said firing chamber, and throttling means adjustable for varying the effective area of said inlet passage and coincidently varying the instant of release of the compressed mixturer 9. In a rotary internal combustion engine,

an annular cylinder, a rotor journaled mixture from the storage chamber to said firingchamber, a rotatable valve ring carried by the cylinder between said cylinder and the rotor and provided with an opening to register with said passage, and means for rotating said ring and varying the effective area of said opening in register with said passage. I

10. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder, a hollow rotor journaled axially of said cylinder and having its interior constituting a fuel mixture storage chamber, shiftable abutments dividing said cylinder into induction and firing chambers, pistons carried by the rotor to travel in said cylinder through said induction and firing chambers and having passages communicating with the storage chamber of the rotor for forcing fuel mixture from said induction chamber into said storage chamber under compression, means for intermittently releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber to said firing chamber, and means on the cylinder for varying the quantity of fuel mixture forced into the storage chamber from the induction chamber by the piston. 9

11. In a rotary internalcombustion engine, an annular cylinder, a rotor journaled axially of said cylinder and providing a fuel mixture storage chamber, shiftable abutments dividing said cylinder into induction and firing chambers, pistons carried by the rotor to travel in said cylinder through said latter chambers for compressing fuel mixture in the induction chamber and having passages communicating with the storage chamber for forcing the compressed mixture into the storage chamber, means for intermittently releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber to said firing chamber, and means on the cylinder for bypassing a portion of the compressed mixture around the piston in the induction chamber.

12. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder, a rotor journaled axially of said cylinder and providing a fuel mixture ,storage chamber, shiftable abutments dividing said cylinder into induction and firing chambers, pistons carried by the rotor to travel in said cylinder through said latter chambers for compressing fuel mixture in the induction chamber and forcing the compressed mixture into the' storage chamber, means for intermittently releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber to said firing chamber, means for bypassing a portion of the compressed mixture in the induction chamber, and'means for varying the instant of bypassing of the compressed mixture in the induction chainber and regulating the uantity of the compressed mixture force into the storage chamber. v

13. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder, arotor 'ournaled axially of said cylinder and providing-a fuel mixture storage chamber shiftable abutments dividing said cylinder into-induction and firing chambers,- piston's carried by the rotor to travel in said cylinder through said latter chambers for compressing fuel mixture in the induction chamber and having passages communicating with the storage chamber forcing the -'compressed mixture into the storage chamber, means for intermittently releasing the compressed mixture from the storage chamber to said firing chamber, the induction chamber being provided near one end with an inlet passage, and means on the cylinder for bypassing a portion of the mixture compressed in the induction chamber around the piston to the inlet end of such chamber.

14. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder having an induction chamber and a firing chamber, a rotor arranged concentric with the cylinder and providing a storage chamber, a piston fixed on the rotor and movable through said induction chamber for pushing fuel mixture from such chamber into the storage chamber, means on the cylinder for bypassing a portion of the mixture in the induction chamber from the front of the piston to the rear thereof, means whereby a partial vacuum is created behind the piston for aspiratmg to the rear of the piston the mixture being bypassed, and means for intermittently releasing the mixture from said storage chamber to the firing chamber.

15. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an ,annular cylinder having an induction chamber and a firing chamber, a rotor providing a storage chamber, apiston fixed on the rotor and movable through said induction chamber for pushing fuel mixture from such chamber into the storage chamber,

means for bypassing a portion of the I1'11X' ture in the induction chamber from the front of the piston to the rear thereof, means whereby a partial vacuum is createdbehind the piston for aspirating to the rear of the piston the mixture being bypassed, means for intermittently releasing the mixture from said storage chamber to the firing chamber, and means on the cylinder for varying the instant of the bypassing of the mixture.

16. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder havin an induction chamber and a firing cham er, a rotor concentric with the cylinder and providing a storage chamber, a piston fixed on the rotor and movable through said induction chamber for pushing fuel mixture from such chamber into the storage chamber, an abutment separating the induction and firing chambers and movable to open position to permit passage of the piston, means on the cylinder for bypassingto the rear of the pisten the portion of the mixture remaining in the induction chamber in vfront of the piston as'the piston approaches the abutment, and means for intermittently releasing the mixture from the storage chamber to said firing chambera 17. Irfla rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder havin an induction chamber and a firing cham er, a rotor releasing the mixture from said storage chamber to the firing chamber.

18. In. a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder having an induction chamber and a firing chamber, a rotor providing a storage chamber and having a piston movable through said induction chamber for pushing fuel mixture from such chamber into the storage chamber, an abutment separating the induction and firing chambersand movable to open position to permit of passage of the piston into the firing chamber, means for bypassing to the rear of the piston prior to the opening of the abutment the portion of the mixture remaining in front of the piston, means whereby a partial vacuum is created behind the piston for aspirating to the rear of the piston the mixture being bypassed, and means for intermittently releasing the mixture from said storage chamber to the firing chamber.

19. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder havin an induction chamber and a firing chamber, the induction chamber being provided with an inlet passage, a rotor providing a storage chamber and having a piston movable through said induction chamber for pushing fuel mixture from such chamber into the storage chamber, an abutment separating the induction and firing chambers and movable to open position to permit the passage of the piston into the firing chamber, means for bypassing to the rear of the piston prior to the opening ofthe abutment the portion of the mixture remaining in front of the piston, means for closing said inlet passage whereby a partial vacuum is created behind the piston for aspirating to the rear of the piston the mixture being bypassed, and means for intermittently releasing the mixture from said storagechamber to the firing chamber. 7

20. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder having an induction chamber and a firing chamber, a hollow rotor having its interior constituting a storage chamber, a hollow piston in communication with the storage chamber and fixed to the periphery of the rotor to move through said induction chamber for pushing fuel mixture under pressure from such chamber through the piston into the storage chamber, a rotary abutment in and transverse to the cylinder and separating the induction and firing chambers and movable to open and closed position to permit the passage of the piston into the firing chamber while the piston crosses the plane of the abutment, and

"means for intermittently releasing the mixture from said storage chamber to the firing chamber behind the piston.

' 21. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder provided with an abutment housing and formed at its inner periphery with an annular channel, a rotor having a medial flange slidably fitting in said channel, the flange being formed with longitudinal grooves in its sides, a piston carried by said flange and movable through the cylinder, an expansible packing ring fitted circumferentially to the piston to cooperate with the wall of the cylinder and pro- Vided wit-l1 terminal lugs extending through the rib of the rotor and projecting laterally outward into said grooves, an abutment mounted in said housing and movable to open position to permit of passage of the piston, and cams mounted upon the cylinder at the abutment housing and yieldably engaged in said grooves in the rib of the rotor to coact with the lugs of said piston ring for compressing the ring while the piston travels through said housing.

22. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular cylinder provided with an I abutment housing, a rotor having a piston movable through the cylinder, an abutment mounted in said housing and shiftable to permit the passage of the piston, an expansible packing ring fitted circumferentially to the piston to coact with the wall of the cylinder and having its ends disposed adjacent the periphery of the rotor, and means on the cylinder to engage the ends of the ring at opposite sides of the iston for limitin the expansion of the ring while the piston travels through said housing.

23. In an internal combustion engine, an abutment housing, an abutment rotatable in said housing and provided peripherally with a notch to accommodate a piston traveling through the abutment, packing members mounted in the sides of the abutment housing and overlying the sides of the abutment, said members having annular portions concentric with the axis of the abutment and constantly covered by the abutment and other annular portions intermittently exposed by said notch and connected with and eld against displacement by the abutment covered portions of said members, and yieldable means pressing the packing members against the abutment. p

24. In a rotary internal combustion engine, a casing, a hollow rotor mounted concentrically in the casing and constituting a storage chamber, the space between one side of the rotor and the adjacent side of the casing constituting a main intake chamber, an annular cylinder on the casing, an abutment dividing the cylinder into induction and firing chambers, the induction chamber having an inlet communicating with the the storage chamber to the firing chamber behind the piston, the abutment being movable transversely of the cylinder to permit passage of the piston.

25. In a rotar internal combustion engine, a casing, a lOllOW rotor mounted concentrically in the casing and constituting a storage chamber, the space between one side of the rotor and the adjacent side of the easing constituting a main intake chamber, an annular cylinder on the casing, an abutment dividing the cylinder into induction and firing chambers, the induction chamber having an inlet communicating with the main intake chamber, a hollow piston carried by the rotor and movable through the induction and firing chambers of the cylinder, the piston having a closed rear side, a valve controlled opening in its front side and passages leading from said opening into the storage chamher in the rotor whereby to compress fuel mixture in the induction chamber and delivor it into the storage chamber, and means for delivering fuel mixture from the storage chamber to the firing chamber behind the piston, the abutment being movable to permit passage of the piston.

26. In a rotary internal combustion engine, a casing, a hollow rotor mounted concentrically in the casing and constituting a storage chamber, the space between one side of the rotor and the adjacent side of the easing constituting a main intake chamber, an annular cylinder on the casing, an abutment dividing the cylinder into induction and firing chambers, the induction chamber having an inlet communicating with the main intake chamber, a piston carried by the rotor and movable through the induction and firing chambers of the cylinder to compress fuel mixture in the induction chamber and deliver it into the storage chamber, and means for delivering the fuel mixture from the storage chamber to the firing'chamber behind the piston, the abutmentbeing movable transversely of the cylinder to permit passage of the piston, and a flange on one side of the rotor arranged to ride across the inlet to the induction chamber of the cylinder and cut off or permit-flow therethrough.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures. I V

ELVVYNE O. SHREFFLER. [L.S.]

AARON D. LESAGE. [L. s] 

